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However, the Lions continue to look blunt in attack themselves and were unable to make the breakthrough. The men in red did fashion out line breaks but were unable to finish them off with basic skills letting them down. Ben T’eo, who played well at inside-centre, should have allowed Liam Williams to score but he failed to execute the two-on-one and the chance went begging.

Both Jonathan Davies and Stuart Hogg were forced off the field with head injury assessments. The injuries saw Anthony Watson fill in at fullback while Johnny Sexton came on at outside-half forcing Farrell to outside-centre for much of the game.

The forwards laid the platform for the Lions and the half-backs controlled the game with aplomb.

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Farrell went a long way to booking his place in the starting XV for the first test with another outstanding display. His partner, Conor Murray, was very good in his first game on tour and he and Rhys Webb are now the standout contenders for the scrum-half berth.

Greig Laidlaw after the defeat to the Auckland Blues

Greig Laidlaw has a great deal of ground to make up on his rivals for the number nine shirt. He will get a couple more chances ahead of the first test but with all the scrum-halves now having had a chance, Laidlaw is bottom of the pile.

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Taulupe Faletau once again proved that the loss of Billy Vunipola is not as disastrous as first feared. His form on tour will see him as the outstanding candidate to start at number eight.

Ross Moriarty

Peter O’Mahony had a solid game at openside-flanker and was a part of an outstanding pack display. He will get chances throughout the coming week to prove himself again after a good display against the New Zealand Barbarians. The Gloucester flanker still has a very good chance of making the squad for the first test.